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Went to school in 'Cruces. I love the area. Now its so much faster growing than when I was there (mid 90's). Loved being less than an hour from El Paso, about 45 minutes from Alomogordo and the Dunes. Mesilla right next door (what an awesome little town in itself), driving along the Rio Grande, smelling the Chiles and the Onions.. Driving through the Pecan Groves at night under the Desert Moon. Hiking in the Organs. Really just a great town.

I did get up to Albuquerque a few times while I was there - I liked it, but it seemed very strip-mally and suburban to me, just like the midwest that I'm from. I did like downtown Albuquerque (old town) and the mountain and tram

Ahhh...I don't know how I accidentally omitted Ruidoso from the list. As I stated in my original post, obviously I could not include all the towns in NM (such as already mentioned Socorro, Las Vegas, Red River, etc.) and that is why I did an "OTHER" option, but I absolutely should have put Ruidoso in there! I intended to, that was my mistake.

If you'd put in Cloudcroft, I probably would have voted for it. I know it's impractical given the size of the town. I went with Las Cruces, my town, but was close to picking either Albuquerque or Santa Fe, but went with Las Cruces because it is less hectic, and the weather is just superior.

Its not impractical mike. Love what town you love for whatever reason. I never once though a cowboyesque town like Clayton would be my fave NM place here but it is. Its just so relaxed which is a perfect match for my personality.

If I could make as much and find similar work in Las Cruces, I'd probably move south. ABQ is and always has been home, but I love the new neighborhoods of LC and all the palm trees. Like EnjoyEP, I think Cruces has the best weather in the nation, ABQ is a very close second. But there are so many great things happening in ABQ that I really don't see myself leaving anytime soon.

1) Jemez Springs-just like all that it offers and the proximity to ABQ
2) Santa Fe-Can you say Pecos Wilderness?
3) Four corners region-great flyfishing area with the San Juan so close....
4) Chama area-guess you could consider this 4 corners region but the beauty here is unmatched....
5) Albuquerque-Love the Duke city and want to make this my homebase for all my adventures....

There are so many cool places to list but those 5 areas cover my favs..

I realize NM has a TON of great cities/towns, so yes, it is hard to vote for only 1! But vote for your favorite of the most favorites!

Both New Mexico and Texas have so much to offer.....I chose Alamogordo at this time mainly because I love the Sacramentos...and I have to be close to family! When I first saw Alamo (in 35-40 years, that is..), I had a contract on a house in Farmington. I was on my way back to Midland, and decided to go home that way, just out of curiosity.

When I drove in....I went...WOW. What a beautiful place. I'll have to come visit more later when I move to Farmington. Well......the property inspection came back.....and for various reasons, I terminated the contract...and came back to Alamo for a second look.

The rest is history...

I liked a LOT of places in New Mexico.....Farmington (very far from family and almost out of my price range), Los Alamos, Santa Fe (both out of my price range), ABQ (wonderful city, but just too big for me), Las Cruces (hotter than I like, but neat place) and finally, Alamogordo. The easygoing pace of life, small-town feel (but with amenites) and the nearby mountains.....perfect. El Paso is nearby, and I will admit I like being close to Texas...because, like it or not, it will always be home. EP is just too big and busy for me also.

The summers here in Alamo may prove too hot for me over time, but we shall see.

This is gonna sound sappy as h****, but.....I go out my front door every morning to get the paper...and I spend a few minutes gazing at both Sierra Blanca and the Sacramentos! The sunsets are just glorious--as are West Texas'.....but the mountains make EP and Alamogordo's sunsets and sunrises especially glorious.

I liked a LOT of places in New Mexico.....Farmington (very far from family and almost out of my price range), Los Alamos, Santa Fe (both out of my price range)...

Overall, just a great post Cathy...you are one of the regular posters that shares my love and passion for Southern NM / West Texas! Very well stated.

Gosh darnit, though, I forgot to have Los Alamos on this list! Surely I needed it there. I think LA and Ruidoso should have been included...I apologize it wasn't. I have also heard requests for Las Vegas, Socorro, etc., there were just so many! Sorry for a few omissions folks - keep using "OTHER" when that applies and put comments down here!

Overall, just a great post Cathy...you are one of the regular posters that shares my love and passion for Southern NM / West Texas! Very well stated.

Gosh darnit, though, I forgot to have Los Alamos on this list! Surely I needed it there. I think LA and Ruidoso should have been included...I apologize it wasn't. I have also heard requests for Las Vegas, Socorro, etc., there were just so many! Sorry for a few omissions folks - keep using "OTHER" when that applies and put comments down here!

Thanks, EnjoyEP.....how's it going with the job search?

Los Alamos is really a very different place, though. What made me pause was not only the high prices....but the fact that it is relatively hard to access, and the fact that you have to drive to Santa Fe for major shopping, etc.

I also learned a very HARD lesson. I was not aware that the road that my mapping software chose for me (Highway 4, then 126) was NOT paved. I have since learned that certain markings indicate an unpaved road. I left Los Alamos to go to Farmington....and I came upon Highway 4, then 126....the road crew LET ME PASS (this was Feb 2007), and was probably laughing when they saw my Texas plates...."Hey, let's have some fun with this !@#$ from Texas.."...I stayed on 126, which went through the Santa Fe National Forest, which at any other time of the year would have been beautiful. In February, it was muddy, slick and very slow driving. I discovered that I was a better driver than I thought. I had to drive fast enough to avoid getting stuck in the mud (a lethal mix of clay and sand, mostly clay) and slow enough to keep from sliding down the side of the mountain....I finally came out on to 550...and it took me 5 hours. All I had to do was stay on 4 and go on down to Jemez Springs/San Isidro Pueblo, and then back up to 550 to Cuba/Farmington. I did not have 4WD at the time, and they (the road crew) had NO business letting anyone pass on that road unless they lived along that route.

I will always be grateful to my guardian angel who was with me the whole time.

I have not been to Red River....Silver City, and a number of other smaller places....all in good time!!

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